CARDIAC CONDITIONING AND SKELETAL RESPONDING IN CURARIZED DOGS

The polyvagal perspective

The polyvagal theory introduced a new perspective relating autonomic function to behavior, that included an appreciation of the autonomic nervous system as a "system," the identification of neural circuits involved in the regulation of autonomic state, and an interpretation of autonomic reactivity as adaptive within the context of the phylogeny of the vertebrate autonomic nervous system. The paper has two objectives: first, to provide an explicit statement of the theory; and second, to introduce the features of a polyvagal perspective. The polyvagal perspective emphasizes how an understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms and phylogenetic shifts in neural regulation leads to different questions, paradigms, explanations, and conclusions regarding autonomic function in biobehavioral processes than peripheral models. Foremost, the polyvagal perspective emphasizes the importance of phylogenetic changes in the neural structures regulating the autonomic nervous system and how these phylogenetic shifts provide insights into the adaptive function and the neural regulation of the two vagal systems.

Dynamics of reactions of nonspecific and somatic activation during biofeedback training

In experimental research involving the participation of 17 volunteers, we investigated the dynamics associated with indices of respiration, electromyographic activity of the hand muscles, heart rate, and electroencephalograms during training of voluntary upward and downward regulation of skin resistance and skin temperature. It was demonstrated that development of reactions of nonspecific, generalized activation appearing in the form of respiratory arrhythmia and, in a number of cases, in the form of changes in the frequency of respiration, heart rate, and an intensification of beta-activity were characteristic of the initial stages of the training. In a number of the subjects, we also noted activation of muscle groups in the areas where the sensing elements monitoring the vegetative parameters were attached. The activational reactions extinguished during reinforcement of the skill. The data obtained confirms the hypothesis that the training of adaptive biocontrol is a form of instrumental conditioning.

Conditioning under carbolonium bromide and D--tubocurarine chloride paralysis

The findings of past research using d-tubocurarine chloride as a control procedure in heart rate conditioning have been equivocal. The present experiment compared classical heart rate conditioning under neuromuscular blockade by d-tubocurarine chloride, and a pharmacologically more specific blocker, carbolonium bromide. Both groups were compared to a placebo condition. The results indicated that carbolonium bromide and placebo treated animals acquired deceleratory cardiac conditional responses, but animals treated with d-tubocurarine chloride did not. Unconditional acceleratory responses were found in groups. The findings were discussed in relation to classical conditioning and the psychopharmacology of neuromuscular blockade.

Psychological aspects of cardiac arrhythmia

A review of data from a wide spectrum of research studies suggests that psychological-emotional factors can significantly influence and alter the incidence of cardiac arrhythmia. While the existing data are, in many cases, difficult to interpret because of theoretical and methodological problems, sufficient evidence does exist to warrant a concerted investigation into the total involvement of psychological factors in cardiac arrhythmia.

Physiological-behavioral coupling research in the Soviet science of higher nervous activity: a visitation report

Behavioral research paradigms presently used by Soviet scientists to explore relations between behavioral and physiological activities are discussed. Each laboratory represented was physically visited by the author during a six month exhange visit to the Soviet Union. Research ranging from central concommitants of language and meaning to biofeedback and peripheral autonomic functions are described.

A state-dependent learning effect produced by amylobarbitone sodium

Learning is said to be state-dependent when a response which is learned in a given internal state shows disproportionate decrement in retention when the internal state of the learner is changed. Research on this phenomenon has a long history. It was first noted by investigators who were concerned with the problem of whether overt responses were necessary for the formation of classically conditioned responses. Curare was used to eliminate the overt response, and it was found that:

Transfer following operant conditioning in the curarized dog

Dogs were trained to press a pedal to avoid shock. They were then operantly reinforced for making or for refraining from making a series of electromyographic responses while almost completely curarized. Tests after recovery from curarization showed that operant conditioning under curare influenced the original pedal-press response.